Self-winding clock



Feb. 9, 1932. REINER 1,844,682

SELF WINDING CLOCK Filed Feb. 24, 1930 Patented Feb. 9, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MAX REINER, OF BRONX, NEW YORK, ASSIGN'OR TO PERPETUAL SELF WINDING WATCH COMPANY OF AMERICA, INC., 0]! NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE SELF-WINDING CLOCK Application filed February 24, 1930. Serial No. 430,719.

This invention relates to self-winding clocks and has for an object an improved self-winding clock for automobiles and the like.

A clock embodying this invention is provided with a pendulum which is maintained in a horizontal position of rest by resilient means. Vertical vibration of the clock effects vertical oscillation of the pendulum and the oscillation of the pendulum is utilized to impart step by step uni-directional rotation to a wheel connected to the winding train of the clock. Means are provided to prevent overwinding of the main spring. These means allow the pendulum to swing without rotating the wheel when the resistance of the main spring exceeds a predetermined value.

Other objects, novel features and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following specification and accompanying drawings, wherein:

' Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a clock embodying the invention attached to a vehicle.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the clock with the back removed.

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the pendulum and its co-acting parts in position of rest.

Fig. 4 is a corresponding view with the parts in actuated position.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of Fig. 3, and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged section on the line 66 of Fig. 5. i

The clock comprises a casing 10 within which the movement is enclosed. At the front of the casing there is provided the usual dial which is protected by a crystal mounted in the bezel 11. The bezel is provided with the usual inwardly projecting flange which snaps into a co-acting groove and is freely rotatable and is so designed as to be capable of rotation. A leaf spring 12 is carried by the bezel and is provided with an enlarged head '13 in a slot cut in the inwardly projecting flange. This head serves to lock the bezel against accident and also exerts suflicient friction to prevent free rotation of the bezel. A lever 14 is pivoted to the bezel in a slot provided for that purpose and in one position is completely concealed Within the bezel as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1. This lever with the lever 14 in the position shown in I Fig. 1, the hands of the clock may be rotated for the purpose of setting the clock. The spring 12 engages the hub of the lever 14 to prevent accidental movement of the lever 14 from its dotted line to its full line position. After the clock has been set, the lever 14 must be returned to its dotted line position as otherwise it would be engaged by the minute hand and the clock would be stopped. The inner end of the lever 14 is therefore painted red as a reminder that the lever should be returned to its inoperative position after being used in the setting of the clock.

The winding mechanism comprises a shaft 15 which is supported at one end by a bridge 16 and at the other end by a bearing (not shown). A sleeve 17 is fixed to the shaft 15 and has attached thereto one end of a helical spring 18 which surrounds the sleeve 17. The other end of the helix 18 is attached to the bridge 16. The pendulum 19 having a weighted head 20 is also fixed to the shaft 15. The spring 18 serves to maintain the pendulum in a horizontal position of rest. The head 20 is provided with buffer springs 21 which engage the inner wall of the casing 10 when the pendulum is violently vibrated and limit the extent of throw of the pendulum. An arm 22 is rotatably supported on the shaft 15 and held adjacent the pendulum 19 by a plate having a slot which receives a reduced portion of the shaft 15, the plate 23 being attached to the arm 22 by a screw 24-. The arm 22 is provided with a pawl 25 which engages the teeth of a ratchet wheel 26 rotatably mounted on the shaft 15. A spring 27 keeps the pawl in engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel. The pendulum 19 is provided with a pin 28 which underlies the arm 22 and this arm is provided with an extension 29 provided with a roller 30. A leaf spring 31 is carried by the head 20 and rests upon the roller 30, the spring being bowed upwardly slightly intermediate its ends.

Upward movement of the pendulum 19 effects positive lifting of the arm 22 through the medium of the pin 28, while downward movement of the pendulum applies down ward pull on the arm 22 through the mediui of the spring 31 and roller 30. Oscillation of the arm 22 imparts step by step uni-directional rotation of the ratchet wheel 26 to which is connected agear wheel 32 which meshes with a gear wheel of the winding train 33 by means of which the main spring is wound up.

When the main spring has become nearly wound up, its resistance to winding increases and the tension of the spring 31 is such that under these circumstances, the spring yields to permit downward movement of the pendulum 1 9 without corresponding downward movement of the arm 22. Under these circumstances, the ratchet wheel 26 will not be rotated. Upward movement of the penduhim 19 merel lifts the arm 22 and causes the pawl 25 to move along the ratchet teeth. This condition will exist until the main spring has run down sufiiciently that its resistance to winding no longer e -eeeds the tension of Eli the spring 31, whereupon the arm 22 will again oscillate in unison with the pendulum 19 and step by step uni-directional rotation will again be imparted to the ratchet wheel 26.

The clock may be attached to the instrn ment board A or any other suitable part of the body of an automobile or other vehicle in any suitable manner so tl the pendulum 19 will be maintained normally in a substantially horizontal position. In operation of the vehicle, the body will be subjected to vertical vibration due to irregularities in the road bed and the like and such vibration will effect oscillation of the pendulum 19 in the manner above described, thereby effecting winding of the main spring of the clock. During the operation of the vehicle, the clock will be maintained in nearly wound concition and overwinding of the main spring will be prevented by yielding of the spring 31 as previously described.

It is of course understood that various modifications may be made in the structure above shaft, a porn dulum carried thereby, an oscillatable lever, a wheel, means to impart uni-directional rotation from said lever to said wheel, posiive means on said pendulum for moving said lever in one direction and resilient means 7 carried by said pendulum for moving said lever in the other direction.

2. In a self-winding clock, a shaft, a pendulum fixed thereto, an arm rotatably supported by said shaft, a ratchet wheel rotatably supported by said shaft, a pawl carried by said lever and cooperating with said ratchet wheel, a spring carried by said pendulum and engaging said lever to yieldingly pull the same in one direction, and positive means on said pendulum to engage said lever to move the same in the opposite direction.

3. In a self-winding clock, a shaft, a pen dulum fixed thereto, an arm rotatably mounted on said shaft, a ratchet wheel rotatably supported by said shaft, a pawl carried by said arm and cooperating with said ratchet wheel, a pin on said pendulum to engage said arm to move the same in one direction, and a spring carried by said pendulum, said spring having a portion engaging said lever and tending to pull the same into contact with said pin.

4. In a self-winding clock, ashaft, a pendulum fixed thereto, an arm rotatably supported by said shaft, a pin on said pendulum to engage said lever, resilient means carried by said pendulum and contacting with said lever for maintaining the latter in contact with said pin, a ratchet wheel rotatably mounted on said shaft,- a pawl carried by said arm for cooperating with said ratchet wheel, and a winding train connected to said ratchet wheel.

5. In a self-winding clock, a horizontal shaft, a pendulum carried thereby, yieldable means for maintaining said pendulum in horizontal position of rest, an oscillatable lever, a wheel, means to impart uni-directional rotation from said lever to said wheel, positive means on said pendulum for moving said lever in one direction, and resilient means carried by said pendulum for moving said lever in the other direction.

6. In a self-winding clock, a horizontal shaft, a pendulum fixed thereto, yieldable means for maintaining said pendulum in a horizontal position of rest, an arm rotatably supported by said shaft, a ratchet wheel rotatably supported by said shaft, a pawl carried by said lever and cooperating with said ratchet wheel, a spring carried by said pendulum and engaging said lever to yieldingly pull the same in one direction, andpositive I means on said pendulum to engage said lever to move the same 1n the opposite direction.

1. In a self-winding clock, a horizontal shaft, a pendulum fixed thereto, yieldable means for mamtammg said pendulum in horizontal positlon of rest, an arm rotatably mounted on said shaft, a ratchet wheel rotatably supported by said shaft, a pawl can ried by said arm and cooperating with said ratchet wheel, a pin on said pendulum to engage said arm to move the same in one direction, and a spring carried by said pendulum, said spring having a portion engaging said lever and tending to pull the same into contact with said pin.

8. In a self-Winding clock, a horizontal shaft, a pendulum fixed thereto, yieldable means for maintaining said pendulum in horizontal position of rest, an arm rotatably supported by said shaft, a pin on said pendulum to engage said lever, resilient means carried by said pendulum and contacting with said lever for maintaining the latter in contact with said pin, a ratchet wheel rotatably mounted on said shaft, a pawl carried by said arm for cooperating with said ratchet wheel, and a Winding train connected to said ratchet wheel.

9. In a self-winding clock, a horizontal shaft, a pendulum carried thereby a coil spring surrounding said shaft and supporting said pendulum in horizontal position of rest, an oscillatable lever, a wheel, means to impart uni-directional rotation from said lever to said wheel, positive means on said pendulum for moving said lever in one direction, and resilient means carried by said pendulum for moving said lever in the other direction.

10. In a self-winding clock, a horizontal shaft, a pendulum fixed thereto, a coil spring surrounding said shaft and maintaining said pendulum in horizontal position of rest, an arm rotatably supported by said shaft, a ratchet wheel rotatably supported by said shaft, a pawl carried by said lever and 00- operating with said ratchet wheel, a spring carried by said pendulum and engaging said lever to yieldingly pull the same in one direction, and positive means on said pendulum to engage said lever to move the same in the opposite direction.

11. In a self-winding clock, a horizontal shaft, a pendulum fixed thereto, a coil spring surrounding said shaft and supporting said pendulum in horizontal position of rest, an arm rotatably mounted on said shaft, a ratchet wheel rotatably supported by said shaft, a. pawl carried by said arm and cooperating with said ratchet wheel, a pin on said pendulum to engage said arm to move the same in one direction, and a spring carried by said pendulum, said spring having a portion engaging said lever and tending to pull the same into contact with said pin.

12. In a self-winding clock, a horizontal shaft, a pendulum fixed thereto, a coil spring surrounding said shaft and maintaining said pendulum in horizontal position of rest, an arm rotatably supported by said shaft, a pin on said pendulum to engage said lever, re- 

